Source: SKY_Sports
Everton v Stoke preview
Everton will be looking to cement their top-six standing when they play host to Stoke on Saturday.[LNB] The Toffees appear to be well on course to secure European football for next season, with their final position all which remains to be resolved.[LNB]They currently sit four points adrift of fifth-placed Arsenal, while they will not have given up hope of making significant inroads into the seven-point cushion which separates them from Aston Villa, and a UEFA Champions League place.[LNB]With the battle at the top hotting up, David Moyes' side will be optimistic about adding three vital points to their tally this weekend.[LNB]They have lost just once in their last 11 top-flight fixtures on home soil and have kept five clean sheets in their last six Goodison Park outings.[LNB]They are also unbeaten in eight against the Potters, a run which includes a 3-2 victory at the Britannia Stadium in September.[LNB]Stoke, therefore, enter the game as underdogs as they look to secure priceless points in their battle against the drop.[LNB]Tony Pulis' men sit just a point above the relegation zone with 10 games remaining.[LNB]A three-match unbeaten run has helped their cause, but they do have the worst away record in the Premier League - picking up just four points from a possible 42.[LNB]The Potters have also managed just two clean sheets on their travels this term, with two or more goals conceded in each of the other 12 fixtures.[LNB]They can, however, boast a striker in James Beattie who is in red-hot form and he will be desperate to put one over on his former employers.[LNB]Injury woesWhile Everton will be in positive mood heading into the contest, the Goodison Park treatment room continues to be well-stocked.[LNB]Tony Hibbert will miss out this weekend with a thigh problem, while James Vaughan continues to struggle with a knee complaint.[LNB]Victor Anichebe, Mikel Arteta (both knee) and Yakubu Aiyegbeni (calf) have been ruled out for the remainder of the season, while Nuno Valente is still carrying a knee injury of his own.[LNB]No worriesIn contrast, Stoke will enter the weekend encounter with a clean bill of health.[LNB]Pulis has no fresh injury or suspension concerns to contend with as his side make the trip to Merseyside.[LNB]The only decision for the Potters boss to make will be whether to return Ricardo Fuller to his starting XI after the Jamaica international stepped off the bench to grab a vital goal in last week's 2-0 win over Bolton.[LNB]Possible starting XIsEverton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Pienaar, Rodwell, Fellaini, Osman, Cahill, Saha.[LNB]Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Lawrence, Whelan, Diao, Delap, Beattie, Fuller.[LNB]
